Assane, based in Brooklyn New York, hails from Northern Senegal. Driven by a desire to document the evolution, and rapport between tradition, culture, and self, his work has been regarded as an influential attempt to craft a distinct visual language for a new and emerging generation of photographers. Holding photography, Fashion, and fine Art as primary prisms in his artistic contemplation, Assane is a coveted alumnus of the International Center of Photography, NYFA Immigrant Artists Program, MOMA, and ArtsConnection.
With a deep care for the subjects he photographs, and their relationship with the physical and temporal spaces they occupy, Assane explores through his work the subjectivity and influence of communities who, though fully rooted in a mix of local and international cultural references, are often deprived of an opportunity to define and name their valuable contribution to the world. Assane’s work has been exhibited at The Brooklyn Museum, The Africa Center, the International Center of Photography, PhotoVille, the Soho House, the Costandino Gallery, the Der Grief Gallery, the WildProject Gallery, Static Art Collective, ArtsConnection, Soho Photo Gallery, Savant Studios Gallery.
Emerging from a Toucouleur and Senegalese cultural context, Assane is now rooted in an American reality from where he enlists his relationship with the local and the global to inform his exploration of self, offering a new take on the plural and the multiple. Assane is a 1/2 co-founder of a non-profit called Jollof Films which aims to to commemorate the pioneers of African filmmaking in hopes of inciting inspiration to inspire the African diaspora to be strongly rooted in the African reality. He also is 1/3 co-founder of a collective called WESHHH which can be described as a multi-disciplinary entity, in which all ten members operate interdependently.
Awards
1. The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition - celebrating the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th Anniversary - Collective show - October 2024
2. ArtsConnection’s Benefit Festival, The "Art is the Heart of Life" festival celebrates 45 years of impact and supports ArtsConnection’s mission to provide arts education to NYC public-school students - June 2024
3. Levi’s 501 Vogue Edition selected among 150 uprisings photographers of the world - May 2023
4. Outstanding artist of the year - Tenzer Learning Center - June 2019
Media Publications